2009 BMW 7 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
3,171 MOT tests on the 2009 BMW 7 Series are in this dataset, and 85.0% of them passed. Against executive cars of a similar age (21.7% fail rate), the 2009 7 Series comes out 6.6pp better. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (7.4%) and tyres (4.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, tread depth and ball joint — coil spring alone was recorded 119 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 25.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 11.9% once past 150k.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 21.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 15.1% in 2021 to 12.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 7.4% | 236 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.9% | 155 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 4.7% | 150 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.9% | 92 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.4% | 75 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.2% | 69 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 119 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 82 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 81 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 80 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 59 |
| 6 | Washers | 57 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 21.5% | 683 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.0% | 634 |
| 3 | Brakes | 14.7% | 465 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 11.8% | 375 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.1% | 162 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.7% | 117 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 35 | 25.7% |
| 30-60k | 236 | 11.9% |
| 60-90k | 490 | 15.1% |
| 90-120k | 828 | 16.6% |
| 120-150k | 865 | 16.3% |
| 150k+ | 712 | 11.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,750 | 14.7% |
| Petrol | 421 | 17.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 737 | 15.1% |
| 2022 | 712 | 14.9% |
| 2023 | 649 | 15.9% |
| 2024 | 582 | 16.3% |
| 2025 | 491 | 12.6% |
What to check before buying a 2009 7 Series
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 7.4% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (7.4% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Tyres (4.9% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (4.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2009 BMW 7 Seriess pass their MOT?
85.0% of the 3,171 2009 BMW 7 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 BMW 7 Series?
Suspension, recorded in 7.4% of tests, followed by tyres (4.9%).
Does the 2009 7 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.7% in the 0-30k band to 11.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,171 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.